Vehicle Tracking Systems ???

I recently installed a cheap $10 i415 Boost Mobile phone in the dash of my Tacoma Double Cab TRD (Speedway Blue), so that I can track my Tacoma at all times. The install was pretty easy and it seems to work well. I'm using free software from GATR Systems (www.gatrsystems.com).

I can get online with my laptop or cell phone and basically see where my vehicle is at anytime. It also lets me set up geofences and speed alerts and the system notifies me by email or text messages when my truck enters or leaves an area or if the it exceeds the speed limit that I set.

They also offer some other features that I haven't used yet. I'm hoping this might allow me to monitor my boys a little bit, plus work as an inexpensive lo-jack. Also I might get a better idea of what is happening with my truck when I take it in for service.

Its $10/month for the Boost pay as you go web plan, which I think is pretty cheap. As long as you don't make any calls thats the cost. For me it would be too much trouble to dig it out of the dash. Just wondering if anyone else has used this particular system or if they've used something similar ???

I'll try and post some pictures if anyone is interested.

 

<--- Interested

 

for awhile thats what my dept. Used in our cruisers...

 

Finally got some time to take a few pictures of this installation. Hopefully this will all make sense.

I am not responsible for any damage you do to your vehicle.

This is a picture of the Boost Mobile i415 that I was first using. You can pick these up on ebay for < $10.






I ran across a good deal on an Boost Mobile i335, so I've been using that. The i335 doesn't support battery and signal strength, which you might want. If you use the i415, you can tell the state of the battery and signal strength on the www.gatrsystems.com website. Here's a picture of the i335. I purchased a $3 case (Big Lots) to store the phone and cables, while its installed under the dash.



I made a six foot cable with 2 wires (red and black from Walmart) for power. I took a drill, locked the wires, pulled it tight and ran the drill for few seconds to get the tight twist. I took a female cigarette light power adapter from (Walmart) and connected this to the six foot cable. I just used a regular car charger for the phone and plugged that into the female receptable. Here's another picture.


I also purchased a data cable to download the GATR software to the phone. Here's a picture of one I picked up on ebay.




I used an add-a-fuse device to connect to my six foot cable. Here's a picture of that.



Here's a picture of it installed.





I tie wrapped the six foot cable in the floorboard on the drivers side over to the center console. Here's a picture of the cable running behind the center console.




I lowered the glovebox and disconnected the arm on the side so that I could drop the glovebox down. Here's a picture of the arm on the right hand side. The upper part of the arm just pops off to the left from a little plastic connector. Here's a picture of the arm.




I brought the six foot cable from the center console and tie wrapped it up through the glovebox. Here's a picture of the glovebox dropped and the cable.




I found two places to place the phone. There is an opening above the glovebox that will easily hold the case with phone and cable or there's a spot to the right of the glovebox. I was able to get GPS at both spots, although I would think the area above the glovebox would be best. You want to make sure you keep only glass and plastic between the phone and sky for the best GPS fix. Here's a picture of the area to the right of the glove box.



Anyways, I hope that gives you a better idea of what I did.

Again, I am not responsible for any damage you do to your vehicle installing this.

Enjoy! If you have any questions let me know.

 

Thats how we did it in my 72 chevelle. Cheap cell phone with tracking, tore it apart and set it in the dash. Had power 24/7.

Good write up, thanks for pics.

 

nice work, i like it

rep

 

7071.. Interessted..

 

i think this should be added to the cheap mods list...that's awesome, great writeup and pics

 

Clever idea, reps to ya.

 

great write up. i will be doing this next week. thanks

 

I use a free program for Win Mobile 6 phones called TrackMe.

There are a lot of options, it will upload your location data to a google map which can be viewed on the internet in real time. You can also save the data on the phone and view it later. It tracks location, speed, altitude and time.

I have used it at work. I put my phone in the vehicle of one of the drivers that I supervise to see where he is going.

 

So you have to get a cell phone and activate another cell account that has tracking and subscribe to a service?

 

GATR Systems has the same features as well. You can download data in KML (Google Earth) or CVS (comma delimited). You can also setup geofences and speed alerts. GATR Systems will send you an email or message when a geofence is entered and/or exited and if the maximum speed has been exceeded. You can also send email to someone from the phone with your current location and send messages to the server to mark locations.

 

Hotbrass,

You can purchase the phones for under $10. As far as phone service all you need for the tracking is the Boost Mobile pay-as-you-go plan. When you sign up get the Web (data) plan. The web (data) pklan is $10/month. If you refrain from making any calls then you'll only pay $10/month. You can recharge at 7-11's, on the web site, or through the phone.

 

dont tell my dad

 

Great idea. I need to look into that!

 

very interesting... does it only work with boost?

 

Boost uses Nextel, so Nextel will work as well. I think they have software for Windows Mobile, Google Android (HTC G1), and possibly some others.

Just learned a friend of mine is using his to keep track of his elderly mother, since she wanders off sometimes.

 

great idea i will never buy another low jack again i have one on my taco and my Hog